Data comparing apparatus



. \11 Sheets-Sheet 1 H. P. LUHN ET AL DATA COMPARING APPARATUS July 8, 1952 Filed Dec. 50, 1947 INVENTORS f-flaw EJFAMBKOSIQ K W. DEA/v lmlm 3 11 Sheets-Sheet I5 y 8, 1952 H. P. LUHN El'AL 2,602,545

DAT COMPARING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 30, 1947 1'1 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS B. 1-. AMBROS/O BY h. M: DEAN j: AGENT July 8, 1952 H. P. LUHN ETAL DATA COMPARING APPARATUS 11 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 30, 1947 JON . E AMBROS/0 M4 DEAN AGENT y m H. P. LUHN ET AL DATA COMPARING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 50, 1947 11 Sheets-Sheet 6 4Q: @AG NT July 8, 1952 H. P. LUHN ETAL DATA COMPARING APPARATUS l1 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Dec. 30, 1947 m m N Q m m oMBA T muMM N LA w v Q mPFw m 5 v w Q g g .5 5 31 Q Q Q E3225 s m July ,8, 1952 H. P. LUHN ETAL 2,602,545

DATA COMPARING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 30, 194? ll Sheets-Sheet 8 Set Plan '76 INVENTORS H. I? LUHN 5. F AMBROS/O BY h. m DEAN AGENT July 8, 1952 H. P. LUHN ETAL DATA COMPARING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 30, 1947 11 Sheets-Sheet 10 a m EI DEAN WW l i l l I lllllm 0 00mm WY??? W QUUU NE Q3 \Q Nu Patented July 8, 1952 2,602,545 DATA COMPARING APPARATUS Hans P. Luhn, Island City,

keepsie, N. Y., assignors ness Machines Corporation,

Armonk, Biagio F. Ambrosio, Long and Kenneth W. Dean, Poughto International Busi- New York, N. Y., a

corporation of NewYork Application December 30, 19 47, SQrialNo, 795 53 6 Claims.

This invention isrelated to improvements in classifying and selecting mechanism pertaining to certain record controlled machines, sometimes referred to as collating machines, and is particularly concerned with a collating machine,

bf the type described in U. s. Patent 2,379,828,

wherein the present invention has been embodied.

Briefly the present invention includes novel improvements in sensing record card data by means of cold cathode gaseous discharge devices wherein the data is stored and from which the data is withdrawn for comparison so that data sensed at one time in a card cycle can be compared with other data sensed at a later time in the card cycle. The comparing means is provided by a combination of gaseous discharge devices and electron tubes wherein the latter operate under certain conditions to prevent operation of the former. The comparing means also includes certain additional gaseous discharge devices whereby the data received for comparison may be selectively disregarded to effect a reversal in the natural order of sequence of the data. Certain additional mechanical features are provided for operating with the machine described in the above named reference patent in order to assist in the control of the various electronics devices just described.

One of the main objects of this invention resides in the provision of novel comparing and stored and thereafter selected for comparison in collating operations.

Other objects of the invention will be pointed outin the following description and claims illustrated in the acompanying drawings, which disclose, by way of example, the principle of the invention and the best mode, which has been contemplated, of applying that principle.

In the drawings:

Fig. ,1 is a partial diagrammatic .view of the principal mechanical features of the reference patent (U. S. 2,379,828).

Fig. 2 is a further diagrammatic view of 1 together with certain additional elements residing in the present invention.

Fig. 3 and Fig." 3a illustrate respectively a novel control element and its data arrangement, respectively, as applied to the present invention.

Fig. 4 illustrates the mechanical arrangement of the additional elements shown in Fig. 2"as applied to a collating machine of the type disclosed in the reference patent.

Fig. 5 is a partial sectional view of one of the additional elements first shown in Fig. 2 and taken along a line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a partial sectional view of another of the additional elements first shown in 2 and further illustrated in Fig. 4.

Figs. 7a, 7b, and To show fragmentary circuit diagrams pertinent to the present invention applied to the circuit of the machine described in the reference patent.

Figs. Ba, 8b, 8c, and 8d are circuit diagrams of the electronics devices of the present invention applied to the machine described in the reference patent.

Figs. 9a and 9b, together, illustrate the timing of various electrical components of the present invention and their relations with respect to the timing of other electrical components of the reference patent.

Fig. 10 illustrates the circuit of an indicating device shown in Fig. 4 and operating in conjunction with the circuits of Figs. lb and 7c.

Throughout the description and discussion which follows frequent reference is made to the figures in the drawings of U. S. Patent 2,379,828 in order to prevent needless repetition of matter old in the art and to reduce the amount of detail otherwise necessary. Certain prefixes to the reference characters in the drawings of the present invention are purposely differentiated from those of the reference patent; for example, all relays are designated by an RL prefix. These and others of a similar nature will :be clarified as they are encountered in the following description.

The control element shown in Fig. 3 is -a record card .of size and shape similar to the well known Hollerith tabulating card; however, the arrangement of data representations provides for columns of data in each of three decks or sections shown as Deck A, Deck B, and Deck C so that a total of characters may be represented ;in a single record card. The features of the control element or record card are more fully disclosed in a copending application, Serial No. 768,640, dated August 14, 1947 of H. S. Beattie, G. F. Daly, H. P. Luhn, and R. E. Page. With this type of record card each section of each column is provided with seven index point positions, corresponding to the numerical values 0, 1, 3, and 5 and to the designations X, Y, and Z, wherein single or combinational perforations, or similar indicia, represent the numerical values zero through eleven, ten special symbols, and the alphabetical letters A through Z arranged to have ascending sequence in' the order named, as illustrated by Fig. 3a. A blank column section, i. e. one having no perforations, is lower in sequence than any character named above. For example, a group of cards collated properly in the above arrangement of sequence would read:

Blank 223453 123456 A2345B 123457 ABC45B 223457 ABC45C 22345(Sp1) XYZ45Z 22345(Sp9) ZZZZZZ fixed to gears 3! and 38, respectively. The gear 3'! is driven through an idler gear 39 by a gear 49 attached to a shaft 4| (see also Fig. 2). The gear 38 is driven by a gear 42 on a shaft 43. The shaft 4| and two other shafts 64 carry feed rolls 45. These shafts 4i and 44, together with two other shafts 46 carrying contact rolls 4?, are driven by a primary drive shaft 48 (see Fig. 2) through similar pairs of spiral gears 49 and 59. The shaft 43 and another shaft 5| carry feed rolls 52, and are driven, together with a shaft 53 carrying a contact roll 54 by a secondary drive shaft 55 via pairs of spiral gears 56 and 51. Referring also to Fig. 2, the shaft 55 may be connected to rotate with a continuously rotating shaft 58 by a one-revolution clutch 59 through the action of a clutch magnet 60 (see reference patent Fig. 1c, SFM). In a similar manner the shaft 48 may be connected to rotate With a continuously rotating gear 6|, which meshes with another gear 62 attached to the shaft 59, by a one revolution clutch 63 through the action of a clutch magnet 64 (see reference patent Fig. 10, PPM). A contact roll 41 coacting with sensing brushes 65 forms what is known as a sequence sensing station (see P. S. Fig. 8a) while the contact roll 41 coacting with sensing brushes 59 forms what is known as a primary sensing station (see P. Fig. 8a). Similarly the contact roll 54 and brushes 6! form a secondary sensing station (see S. Fig. 8a), each of the said stations being capable of sensing perforations indicative of record card data.

Fixed to the shaft 58 (see also Fig. 4) is a gear 68 which meshes with another gear 69 fixed to a shaft I9 provided also with a gear 'lI coacting Record cards of the type prewith a gear I2 connected to another shaft IS. The shaft 73 carries a rotary arm (not shown) making contact with a conventional type distributor I4 (see also Fig. 8a), a circuit breaker l5, and a plurality of rotors I 4| (see Fig. 5) coacting with an equal number of impulse storage plates I6 (illustrated in detail in Fig. 5) later described herein.

Cards are fed from the hoppers BI and 32 in the directions indicated by the arrows of Fig. 1.

With the primary drive shaft 38 rotating the feed knife 33 associated with hopper 3i feeds a card from the hopper 3| coacting with the feed rollers 35 to a pair of eject rolls "I1 and 78. With the secondary drive shaft 55 rotating the feed knife 33 associated with hopper 32 feeds a card from the hopper 32 coacting with the feed rollers 52 to a pair of eject rolls I9 and 89. The eject rolls l9 and 89 are driven by the shaft 53 through the gear train comprising gears SI, 82, 83 and 84, the gear 8| being fastened to shaft 53 and gear 84 being attached to a shaft 65 which carries the eject roll 86. The eject rolls 7'! and 18 are driven by the continuously running shaft 53 through a one-revolution clutch 86 becoming effective via action of an eject magnet 37 (see reference patent Fig. 10, EM), the driving element of the clutch being geared to the shaft 58 by a pair of spiral gears 88 and 89; a shaft 90, a pair of gears Si and 92, and a shaft 93 to which the driving element is fixed, while the driven element of the clutch is fixed to a shaft 94 carrying a gear 95 meshing With another gear 95 connected to a shaft 9'! which carries the eject roll 11. The shaft 99 carries a feed roll 98, and three similarly driven shafts 99 each carry a feed roll I99, all these feed rolls coacting with other feed rolls IllI on companion shafts to feed cards from the eject rolls to selected card pockets designated A, B, C, and D.

The continuously running shaft 58 also carries a gear I92 Which meshes with another gear I99 attached to a common shaft with a gear I94 which drives a gear I05 fastened to a shaft I95 carrying two rotors I87 and I98, each having brushes I99 and H9, respectively, for making contact therewith (see also Fig. 4). The rotor 15 and brushes III bearing upon its periphery represent a conventional circuit interrupter, referred to hereinafter as the Brush Circuit Breaker, for providing timed pulses in accordance with the timing chart shown in Figs. 9a and 9b. The distributor I4, hereinafter referred to as the Read in Distributor, delivers impulses of the same time and duration as the Brush Circuit Breaker, successively to each of a plurality of circuit elements as shown in Fig. 8a, its timing being shown in Figs. 9a and 9b.

Cards are fed into the pockets A, B, C, and D under the guidance of blades II 2, II 3, and H4. The rear end of the blade H4 is held upon the tip of a lever I I5 continually urged upwards (see Fig. 1) by a spring '6; however, the lever H5 is normally retained by a latch II "I forming an armature for a selector magnet II8, the latch being pivoted at H9. When the magnet I I8 (see reference patent Fig. 1d, PRM) is not energized the blade I I4 guides cards ejected from the eject rolls I7 and I8 to be fed into pocket 13; however, when the magnet I i8 is energized the latch I I! releases the lever ||5 and the end of blade II is moved upwards by the action of the spring H6 so that cards are fed from the eject rolls I1 and I8 under the blade I I 4 into pocket A. The rear ends of the blades H2 and H3 are spaced apart ,tributor (see also Fig. 8a).

transversely. The rear end of the blade II3 extends under the tip of a lever I continually urged downwards by a spring I2I but normally retained by a latch I22 forming an armature for a selector magnet I23 (see reference patent Fig. 1d, SRMI), while the rear end of the blade II3 extends under asimilar lever (not shown) associated with similar mechanism (not shown) under the control of a similar magnet (see reference patent, Fig. 1d, SRMZ). When both of the last mentioned selector magnets are deenergized, cards .are fed from eject rolls I9 and 80 under blade II3 into pocket B. When selector magnet I23 is energized, the blade I I3 is depressed at its rear end to permit cards to be fed from the eject rolls I9 and over blade H3 (between blades II2 and i3) into pocket C. When the other selector magnet is energized both the blades 1 I2 and H3 are depressed at their ends, in a similar manner, so that cards are fed from the elect rolls 1.9 and 80 over the blade II2 into pocket D.

It is therefore obvious that primary cards P are fed as a result of energizing of "the primary feed magnet 34 (or magnet PFM of the reference patent) and may be directed into either pocket A or pocket B depending upon the energization of selector magnet H8 (or magnet PRM of the reference patent). Likewise secondary cards S are fed as a result of energizing of the secondary feed magnet 60 (or magnet SFM of the reference patent) and may be directed into the pockets B, C, or D upon energization of the selector magnets I23 and a similar magnet not shown (corresponding to the magnets SRMI and SRM2 of the reference patent). No primary cards P are fed into the pockets A or B, however, unless the eject magnet 81 (corresponding to magnet EM of the reference patent) is also energized. The feed magnets, selector magnets, and the eject magnet are energized in accordance with certain circuits set up and energized principally by certain relays (namely, relays Fir-22, R-23, R44, 3-25, R-Zfi, and R-Z'I of the reference patent) the operation of which is covered in detail in pages 17 to 53 of the said reference patent. The above mentioned relays are shown in Figs. 7b and 7c of the drawings herein, and are described in that connection later herein.

The impulse storage plate It is illustrated in detail in Fig. 5, and actually consists of a contact ring I32 having a plurality of contact inserts I33 to each of which is connected the oathode terminal of a gas triode I34, there being a plurality .of such triodes incorporated into the storage plate It.

.A terminal block I35 is also included in the plate It having socket type terminals I36 each connected to .a control element provides .a surface upon which rides a .brush I mounted .on a rotor I4I attached to rotate with the shaft I3 .(see Figs. 2 and A). As the brush I40 rotates the insert I39 is successively connected with each of the inserts I33. The contact .ring I32, together with the brush I40 is hereinafter referred to as a Road Out Dis- The plate I6 is provided with mounting bolts I42 for mounting the plate to the collating machine frame members I43 and 144. Wiring from the machine proper is brought to the plates 16 by cables terminating in plugs (not shown) which are inserted into the socket terminals I36, I31, and I38 in the block I35. By this arrangement the impulse storage plates 16 may be readily interchanged one for another in the event of electrical or mechanical failure. Normally thirty-two plates "I6 and six spare plates (58 (seeFig. 4) are provided for a machine such as that described :in the reference patent. A rotor I4I'havingv a brush I40 is provided for each plate I6, all of the rotors I4I being fixed similarly to the shaft 13.

As shown in Fig. 6 the rotor I0! is provided with a plurality of conductive inserts I45 which contact a pair of brushes I09 as the shaft I06 rotates to provide periodic impulses for a circuit connected through the pair of brushes I09. The rotor I01 and the brushes I09 are hereinafter referred to as the Clamp Emitter (see Fig. 8d). The rotor I08 and the brushes H0 operate similarly to provide periodic impulses and are hereinafter referred to as the Brush Storage Dropout (see Fig. 8d). Since both the Clamp Emitter and the Brush Storage Dropout are used for furnishing impulses of very short duration to electronics devices, additional gearing is provided by the gear train comprising gears I02, I03, I04, and I05 which drive the shaft I06 at high speed, the gear I02 being driven by shaft 58 (see Fig. 2).

In the present invention certain cams are provided on the shafts 48, 55, and 58 for operating contacts to interrupt electrical circuits, in addition to those circuit breakers previously mentioned.

The cams are shown in Fig. 4 as (JR-Cams which rotate continuously with the shaft 58, P-Cams which rotate with shaft 48 when primary cards P are fed, and S-Cams which rotate with shaft when secondary cards S are fed. There are spare cams carried on each of the above mentioned shafts. All of the cams are provided with contacts similar to those in the reference patent. and many of the cam con- H tacts are similar in timing and operation to those Fig. 10a of U. s. Patent-2,379,828 Flgsi g g g subject PBl,PB2,SB Brush CB1, CB2, CB3, 0134.. Brush J.B. roLnPoLasoLr PR1. CLC, Sec. cLo. rnosno PR1. HPC. Sec. HPG. i gL SOL g nd SjMach. our one orearr-,4 CR-4 oR-e oe-s .on-v on CR-S oR-s err-9 c1244 oR-m GR-l5 PO-l. 1 -1.

ro-z. P-2

PC-4 P-4 SC-l s4.

sc-z 's-z.

so-s s-s.

Most of the cam contacts and other circuit interrupters added in the present invention (see Figs. 9a and 9b) are concerned with the operation of electronics devices. Briefly the functions of these circuit devices may be described as follows:

(1) Read in Distributor-provides a selective pulse to partially excite the control elements of the gaseous discharge devices G-l to G-l in conjunction with the Brush Circuit Breaker which supplies a complementary pulse via the contact rolls and sensing brushes to ignite the gaseous discharge devices when card data is sensed (see Fig. 8a).

(2) Head Out Distributor-provides voltage pulses to Selector Plates in accordance with conductive gaseous discharge devices (3-4 to G-l in which card data is stored after being sensed (see Fig. 8a and Fig. 8b).

(3) Clamp Emitter-provides high voltage pulses of very short duration (by shorting Regulator Plate No. 2 output), to screen grids of thyratrons G-S, G-S, G-l l, G45, G-2El, G-ZI, 6-26, G-Zl, and similar thyratrons in selector and sequence plates to permit them to become conductive when their control grids are appropriately energized (see Fig. 8d, and Figs. 8b and 8c).

(4) Brush Storage D-ropout-interrupts anode circuits of thyratrons G-EZ, G43, (i-24, (3-25, and similar thyratrons in other sequence plates, by bringing output voltage of Regulator Plate No. 1 to zero (introducing negative potential to control grids of V-l, V-2, V-(i, V-d) to drop out the above mentioned thryratrons which become conductive each cycle point (see Fig. 8d and Fig. 8c).

(5) CR-3-provides positive impulses to control grids of thyratrons G-it, G-I i, G-IS, G-l'i, (3-22, G-23, G-ZB, CF29 and similar thyratrons in selector and sequence plates to pick up the thyratrons under .Alph. High comparison (see Fig. 8d and Figs. 8b and 8c).

('6) CRAB, CR-i i, CRAP-select appropriate deck or decks of record cards being sensed according to time in card cycle wherein data is sensed (see Fig. 8a). (Note. CR-Q (in order to be used in an equivalent manner with CPA-l of the reference patent) may be used in series common to CR-Jil, (ZR-l i, and (JR-i2; however, since the sensing of data in the present invention merely delivers voltage impulses to electronics devices, resulting in very small currents, (JR-9 is not essential and is omitted from the circuit of Fig. 8a).

(7 CR -l3-provides positive impulses to control grids of thyratrons G49, (3-! I, G-IB, G-ll', G-22, (Po-23, G-28, G-29 and similar thyratrons in selector and sequence plates to pick up the thyratrons under Nos. High comparison (see Fig. 8d and Figs. 8b and 8c).

(8) P-iE-interrupts anode circuits of storage plate gaseous discharge devices made conductive by sensing primary card data (such as G-l to (3-1 of Storage Plate No. 3 or No. 4) via operation of the relay R-L-Z l I and opening of contacts RL-Zl la, and interrupts anode circuits of G-Hi, G-Il, G-28, G-29, and similar thyratrons in sequence plates via operation of relays Ri -220, RL-22l, RL-X and opening of contacts RL-22ila, RL-220b, RL-ZZla, and R-L-ZZlb (see Fig. 7a and Figs. 8a and 8c).

(9) P-Binterrupts anode circuits of thyratrons G44, G45, G-Zt, G-Zl, and similar thyratrons in sequence plates (see Fig. 8c). and also interrupts anode circuits of thyratrons G-B, G4, G40, G41, and similar thyratrons in selector plates when 8-5 is made (see Fig. 8b).

(10) S-4--interrupts anode circuits of storage plate gaseous discharge devices made conductive by sensing secondary card data (such as G-l to G4 of Storage Plate No. 1 or No. 2) via operation of the relay Riv-2G3 and opening contacts RL-Ziliia, and interrupts anode circuits of G-lll, G-ll, G49, G2!, and similar thyratrons in selector plates via operation of relays RLe-P-2I2, RL-P-Zll, RL-P-X, and opening of contacts RL-2I2a, RL-Zl'b, RL-2iia, RL-Zi'lb (see Fig. 7a, and Figs. 8a and 8b).

(11) S-5interrupts anode circuits of thyratrons G-t, Cir-9, G-Zt, G-ZI, and similar thyratrons in selector plates when P-5 is made (see Fig. 8b and Fig.

A 40 volt D. C. supply (see its and 178 of Fig. 7a) is provided in the subject invention corresponding to that of the reference patent (WI and W2, Fig. 1a). In addition the present invention requires several additional direct current supplies, these being provided by conventional type rectifiers to give D. C. potentials as follows (see Fig. 8d)

(a) volts between terminals [53 and I52. terminal I53 being positive (see Fig. 10).

(b) volts between terminals EM and 153, terminal I 5! being positive.

(0) 65 voltsbetween terminals E52 and I53, terminal I52 being positive.

(d) 45 volts between terminals iEfi and I54. terminal I53 being positive.

Voltages are also supplied for heating the oathodes of the thyratrons and the vacuum tubes, these sources not being shown.

The normal operation of the machine described in the reference, at pages 17 and 18, is identical to that in the present invention. Thereafter the control of the machine in the present invention is provided by comparison devices and associated circuits into which the sensed card data is fed in the form of electrical impulses, the devices and circuits being illustrated principally in Figs. 8a, 8b, 8c, and 8d. The operation of these circuits and devices is directed to the control of the basic setup relays RIB-22, RIP-23, RL-Zfi, RL 25, RL-Zfi, and RLJZ? (shown in the fragmentary circuits of Figs. 7b and 70 which bear obvious resemblance to circuits in Fig. 1d of the reference patent) corresponding to the relays R-ZZ, R423, R-Zd, P45, R48, and R-Z'l of U. S. Patent 2,379,828. These relays in turn control the feeding of primary and secondary cards by completing circuits through the primary and secondary feed magnets and the eject magnet referred to previously. In some respects, it may be considered that the present invention is. directed to the operation and selective control of the said feed magnets through the said relays as a result of certain combinations of circuits established through the actuation of electronics devices. The electronics devices and their associated circuits and actuating devices are, in turn, operated as a result of the sensing of card data by the brush sensing stations.

The brush sensing stations are shown in Fig. 8a; however, before describing their functioning and operation, certain factors, relating thereto, are to be pointed out. In Fig. 3 is shown a control element in the form or a record card which is particularly adapted to utilization in the present collating machine. The said card is provided with three sections or decks into which data may .9 be placed, for example, by means of perforations. Comparison may be effected between inter-deck data as well as between intra-deck data of two cards (i. e. a primary card and'a secondary card), and means is provided in the form of plug hubs to select decks with respect to the brush sensing stations. For example, the C deck of aprimary card may be compared with the A deck or a secondary card by suitable plugging. This featu're is made feasible by virtue of the storage plates 16, previously referred to, in that data is sensed from the different decks A, B, and C at different times, which are controlled by the circuit breakers CR-I=D, CR-II, and CR'-I'2 (see Figs. 9a and 9b for timing) shown in Fig. 8a, and stored in storage plates I6, from which the data is read out into the electronic comparing devices, the read out for primary and secondary card data being made simultaneously near the end of each card cycle (see Figs. 9a and Qu -Read Out Distributor).

With respect to Figs. 8a, 8b, 8c, and 8d, certain lines are designated by reference to the potential and polarity of the D. C. supplies previously discussed. Thus line I96 is positive 165 volts, terminating in post I-I, line I91 is positive 110 volts terminating in post I50 (the negative side corresponding to the 110 Volt line is line I98) line I98 is positive 65 volts and terminates in post I52, line I99 is at zero potential with respect to lines I98 and I98 and terminates in post I53, line 299 is negative 45 Volts with respect to line I99 and terminates in post I54 (corresponding to a similarly numbered post in Fig. ta), and line I69 is positive 40 volts (the negative side corresponding to line I'Ifl).

The line 2'iiI is supplied with positive 100 volts (D. C.) via a voltage regulator (shown as Regulator Plate No. 1 in Fig. 8d) 4 comprised of the vacuum tubes V-I, V-2, V-'-3, V-4, V-5, V- B, V-"I, the gas tube N-I, the condenser C-I, and the resistors R-I to R-I3, inclusive. A cirucit breaker represented by the rotor IOBand the brushes I I0, previously described and known as the Brush Storage Dropout, applies a negative potential to the grids of the vacuum tubes VI, V2, V3, and V4 periodically to correspondingly reduce the po= tential of line 29I to zero (see Figs. 80, 811,911., and 9b). A similar voltage regulator (Fig. 8d), Regulator Plate No. 2, delivers positive 100 volts (D. C.) to line 202; however, the rotor I01 and the brushes I99, previously described and known as the Clamp Emitter, periodically applies pos itive 165 volts (D. C.) from line I96 to the line 292, in effect thereby shortcircuiting momentarily the Regulator Plate No. 2. The direct current input to both regulators just described is supplied by the lines I99 (positive 165 volts) and I99 (zero volts with respect to line I 96) similarly numbered relays in the reference patent prefixed It-3) i i i Data sensed from a record card by the secondary brushes 61 is fed into a storage plate I6 (see details in Fig. 5) in the form of positive impulses.

With reference to Fig.'8'a-, the storage PlateNo. 1 is comprised of the cold cathode gaseous triod'es G -I, 'G-Z, (Fr-3, GM, 'G 5, G -'6, and G-1, the re sistors R-M to R 34 'and'1'wt-350t and Iii-35b, iniclusive, the condenser C-2, and the Read- Out Distributor. identical'with Storage Plat'e No. '1.

Normally the shaft 13rota-tes continuously that the Read in Distributor selectively anasue cessively applies a potential to a group "of seven resistors; namely, R 36 to R 42, inclusive, each Of these TQSlStOIS having a capacitor (34381113113 across it. The said potentim is applied. -'lfil I96, through Brush Circuit Breaker, f's istdi R 13, Read in Distributor, successively "through resistors R-B'B tea-'42, inclusive, to line 198-. This potential is also successively applied the starter anodes oi the 'triods G -I to Gr-"1, massive through resistors R-" M, R46, H-IB, Ri-ZU, R42, R44, and R-2'5, the magnitude 0f the {potential being suificieht to prime, but not to render essductive, the said triodes. Since the Read Distributor has three similar "sections which are swept over each card cycle, connected in parallel to the resistors -R-'-3'6 to RF-4'2, inclusive, each gas triode is primed three times per eard eycle.

As a record card is 'fed under the brushes 9'! (with the plug wires 20: 3 and 204 Connected. shown in Fig. 811) an additional positive potesaai is delivered to the starter ansdesgbr the gas m. odes G-I to whenever a perforation occurs in the card by the following-circuitpath: line I93", Brush CircuitBrea-ker, cr=|z contacts; p g 2B3, R-L-5b 'contacts, contact roll 54, brush *6'1, plug wire 294, resistor Rr-35a to each tithe ref sistors R45, R-I 1, R49, 12.41;, 12.43, Err-25,19,921 via resistor R451) to line I99. Since the card is fed past the brushes 6"! iii timed relation with the sweep of the Read in Distributor, when a perforation occurs in the card the said additional positive potential will combine with the priming potential to render a corresponding gas triode (G4, G -l) conductive, provided, oweve that the perforation occurs in the deck of the card corresponding to the circuit breaker in'ake time of CR;-I2. With reference to Fig. 3 andfto Figs. 9d andeb, it will be understood that i; a record card similar to that shown in Fig. 3 is with the C deck leading, CRAB contacts will permit the above circuit to be completed when a perforation occurs in C deck of the card, when a perforation is in Bf dbk, and CR when a perforation is in A deck, hence the plug wire 203 being plugged to the line 205 will permit perforations to be read in 'A deck, line 206 in B deck, and line 20'! iii C deck.

By way of example, were the record card of Fig. 3 to be fed from the secondary feed under the brushes 61, of which one brush was plug d viaplug wire 204 (Fig. 8a) corresponding to col umn 4'I, of the record card (perforated in A deck at the Y, fO, and 3 index point 156 31 tions) with OFF-I 2 only connected (via l'i nej'IIS and plu'g'wire 203), the gas triodes G4, G4; and G-G would be rendered conductive. v I

Any of the gas triodes, G-I to (34, inclusive. which becomesv rendered conductive will be retained in that condition via a circuit from line I96, RL-Z'IIBZZ contacts, anode of gas triode (G-I G-'I), cathode or gas mo em-1 G 1), one of the resistors 3-28 to R-3-I, iriclusive, to line I99 (Fig. 3a). The only means by which the last mentioned circuit can be broken, thereby rendering the gas mo es (G-I G- I) non conductive, resides in the Storage Plates Nos. 2 3, and 4 are;

11 opening of Ell-208a contacts; The relay RL-ZBS (see Fig, 7a) is energized at the beginning of a secondary feed cycle, provided the RL-lBa and RL-lBb- (see Fig. 7a) contacts are open, via S4 contacts, or at the beginning of a primary feed cycle, provided the RL-I9a and RL-lSb contacts are closed, via P contacts. Relay RL-l9 corresponds to relay R-|9 of the reference patent. inz reference to Figs. 8a, 9a, and 9b, it is obviousthat any voltage drops across the resistors lit-29 to R-si (as a result of the gas triodes beingconductive) will be picked oif by the brushes Hil of the Read Out Distributor beginning at 120 degrees of each machine cycle, 1. e. regardless of, whether or-not there is a primary or secondary feed of the record cards. The voltage drops, just described, existing in Storage Plate No. 1 will be supplied to Selector Plate No. '1 (Fig. 8b) in a manner hereinafter described.

Similarly, data sensed from a record card by the primary brushes 66 will be stored in Storage Plate No. 3, provided the plug wires 209 and 2m are connected as shown in Fig. 8a and the Read Out Distributor associated with Storage Plate No. 3, will supply voltage drops to Selector Plate No. 1. It is to be noted that the RL-Zl la contacts serve to deionize the gas triodes inStorage Plate No. 3 in a manner similar to the Elli-288a contacts for Storage Plate No. 1. The relay BL-2| l is shown in Fig. 7a and is controlled via P-5 contacts when RL-lsa and RIP-I91) contacts are open, or by St when RL-lfia and RL-iflb contacts are open, or by S4 when RL-l 9a and RL-l 3b are open. It will be noted that Storage Plate No. land Storage Plate No. 2 are arranged similarly for control by RL-208a contacts and that Storage Plate No. 3 and Storage Plate No. 4 are arranged to be controlled by RL-Zlla contacts; in other words, two storage plates are provided for secondary card data and two storage plates are provided for primary card data. As previously explained, in the present collating machine there are actually sixteen primary storage plates and sixteen secondarystorage plates plus six space plates provided. The number of such plates is determined by the number of card column positions which may be desired to be compared at one time, eachvcolumn compared requiring one primary and one secondary storage plate. 1. The present invention, in addition to the storage plates, includes sixteen selector plates, each of which functions, under the control of electronics devices contained therein, to compare the data'of two storage plates, which normally contain data representative of a primary and a secondary card respectively.

Fig. 8b diagrammatically illustrates the selector'plates,'which physically resemble the storage plates l6 except that no moving parts or read out mechanism is required. Selector Plate No. l, typical of all the selector plates, consists of dual vacuum tubes V-Ba and V-Bb, four thyratrons 'G-8, G-S, G-IO, and G-ll, three capacitors C-4, C-5, and 0-5, two uni-directional crystal rectifiers RC-! and RC-2, two relays RL-ZIS and RL-ZM and the resistors R-44 to R-IG, inclusive. The thyratrons G-8 and G-9 are sometimes referred to as selector thyratrons. j The selector plate (Fig. 8b) functions as follows: Positive potentials (impulses) are supplied from Storage Plate No. 1 (secondary card data) toithe controlgrids of the selector thyratron (3-8 and the vacuum triode V-Ba simultaneously viarectifier RC-l, resistors 3-45 and R-BB (to Q-lllhandresistors Rf-48 and ft-53 (to V-Ba).

Similarly positive potentials (impulses) are sup plied from Storage Plate No. 3 (primary card data) to the control grids of the selector thyratron 6-9 and the vacuum triode V-Sb via rectifier RC-2, resistors R-58 and R-59 (to G-9) and resistors R-53 and R-BZ (to V-Bb). V-Ba is biased to cut off via the voltage divider R49 and R-M, and V-Bb is similarly biased by the voltage divider R-EZ and R-Si I. G-B is biased to be nonconductive via the voltage divider R45 and 13-67, and G-@ is biased to be non-conductive via the voltage divider R-SE and R-58. The screen grid of the thyratron G-S normally is biased (negative respective to cathode) via the voltage divider connected from line 202, normally positive volts, to line 2%, negative 45 volts) R-50, R-SB, 13-71, 3-16, and the screen grid of thyratron (Fr-8 is similarly biased by a corresponding voltage divider R-5l, R-GS, R-lii, R-IB. (3-10 is biased to be non-conductive via application of the potential of line 286 (negative 45 volts) to its control grid via resistors R-l2 and R-M, and (3-H is similarly biased via the resistors R-13 and R-IE. Normally, therefore, the thyratrons G-S, (IT-9, G-lfi, and (3-H and the vacuum tubes V-iaa and V-iib are not conducting.

When a positive potential is supplied to RC-l from the Read Out Distributor of Storage Plate No. 1 (secondary card data) unaccompanied by a similar potential supplied to RC-Z from the Read Out Distributor of Storage Plate No. 3, the control grids of G-8 and V-Sa become positive, and V-8a becomes conductive, thereby increasing the negative bias on the screen grid of (3-9 via its anode connection. Since the screen grid of G-S remains negative, (3-3 will not become conductive. When the Clamp Emitter (Figs. 8d, 9a, and 9b) suddenlyincreases the positive potential of line 292, the screen grid of (3-8 becomes positive and 6-8 becomes conductive. V-8a, also having its anode tied to line 202, increases its anode current, thereby further increasing the negative bias on the screen grid of G-S to prevent the latter from becoming conductive. When G-B becomes conductive, its anode current energizes relay Rib-2! 3 and the RL-Zlta contacts are closed.

Similarly, when a positive potential is supplied to RC-2 from the Read Out Distributor of Storage Plate No. 3 (primary card data), unaccompanied by a similar potential supplied to RC-l from the Read Out Distributor of Storage Plate No. 1, (3-9 becomes conductive, G-8 is held nonconductive through similar control of its screen grid by the vacuum tube V-Bb, and relay RL-Z I6 is energized to close the RL-2l4a contacts.

When positive potentials are received simultaneously at RC-l and RC-2 both G-8 and G-9 are held non-conductive by the control of their screen grids respectively by V-H) and V-Sa, in the manner just described.

When G-(i becomes conductive it remains in that state until another primary card feed or secondary card feed occurs, whereupon the cam contacts P-@ or 8-5 open, or until a positive potential causes G-S) to become conductive thereby momentarily. lowering the potential upon the capacitor C-fi, which in turn lowers the anode potential of G-8 to a value below the ionizing potential of the thyratron, thereby rendering G-8 non-conductive. The thyratron G-S is aifected similarly relative to being rendered non-conductive when thyratron G-B becomes conductive.

From the above it may therefore be stated that:

. 13 a ('1) When RC-l and R04 receive simultaneous positive potentialsfrom their associated storage plates neither (3 3 nor Gr-9 become conductive and the relays RL-ZI 3 and RL -Z M are not energized, to close their respective contacts EL-213a and RL-2l4a. Y

e (2) When RC -I receives a positive potential from its associated storage plate, and RC4 receives none, G-8 becomes conductive, G-9 becomes (or remains) non-conductive, relay RL-Z l 3 is energizedto close its contacts Elli-213a.

(3) When RC-2 receives a positive potential fromits storage plate, and RC-l receives none, G 9 becomes conductive, G-B becomes (or remains) non-conductive, relay RLJM is energized to close its contacts RL-Z Ma.

(4) Unless material or circuit failures occur, it is impossible for both G-8 and G-Q to become conductive simultaneously.

Referring now to Fig. 8b, particularly with respect to the selector thyratrons G-lli and G-l I, eertain Wiring connections are provided in Selector-Plate No. 1, for example, in order to establish certain groups of character representations with precedence over certain other groups; namely, alphabetical characters over numerical characters or vice versa. For purposes of clarity herein, when alphabetical characters have precedence, reference will be made to alphabet high and when numerical characters have precedence, reference will be made to numbers high. For *falphabethigh a connection is made between CF] and CR2, and another connection is made from the common line between contacts RL-2 I 3a and RL-2l4a, to the post labelled Alph. High (Fig. 8d These connections may be plug'wires.

Fer numbers high the connection from CPI to CM is omitted, and a connection is made from the common line between contacts Rlr 2l3a and RL-2l4a to the post labelled Nos. High (Fig. 8d).

a, The circuit of Selector Plate No. 1, shown connected for alphabet high, functions as follows: Assuming primary and secondary cards to be fed with the top edge leading (as per card shown in Fig. 3), when alphabetic data is read out from the storage plates through either RC-l or RG4, as a result of perforations in the X, Y, or Z index positions of the cards, either relay RL-2I3 orrelay RL-2 M will be energized to close its respective points. By the time the index position is read out either contacts RL-Z l3a, or litL-ZMq will be closed thereby establishing circuits from (IR-3 (see Fig. 8d), which is made at the index position of the card, to the grids of selector thyratrons G-Ill and G-l I, Positive pulses are thereby provided to render G-in and G-Jl conductive whereupon their anode potentials fall, placing negative potentials on the grids oi the vacuum tubes V-8a and V-8b and on the grids of thyratrons G-8 and G 9 for the remainder of the read out cycle. The thyratrons G -8 and G-S are thereby prevented from responding to any pulses, which might arise due to the presence of numerical data during the rest of that cycle of operation. I

The circuit of Selector Plate No. 16, shown connected for numbers high, functions as follows: Assuming cards to be red as discussed in the preeed'ing paragraph, when alphabetical datais read out from the storage plates through either RC- l or. R C-2, as a result of perforations in the X, X,pr,fZindex positions of the cards, the thy- .ratron (3-20 or Ci- 2i ,Will fire and either relay. HIS-H or ELF-2T6 will be energized to close its respective points. For a period iiiitil the; 0" inde'ic position is read out; while CREW (Figs. 911 and 9b) is made, a circuit is established either via contacts RL2 I50. or RL-Zlfia to place a positive potential on the grid of either the thyratron G42 or 23, thereby rendering it conductive and causing its anode potential to be lowered 50 that the grid of either the vacuum tube V 9a. or V and the grid of either selector thyratron G40 or (Fr-2| are maintained at a negative potential for the rest of the read out cycle. Consequently when the selector thyratron (Fr-'20 or G-2 I, which has not been made conductive, is rendered conductive thereafter by apositive potential arising due to the presence of numerical data, the other selector thyratron will become extinguished by the action of the capacitor C-I3 and lwill pe unable to respond to any further impulses during the remainder of that cycle of operation.

Consequently, by means of the arrangement of circuits, as shown, each selector plate is capable of being operated with either alphabetic or numerical data predominating. For alphabet high the selector thyratron last energized from potentials read out from a storage plate, corresponding to the index positions X, Y, or Z, will retain control, and all following potentials corresponding to numerical index positions 0, 1, 3, and 5 will be suppressed so that alphabetic data predominates. For numbers high the selector thyratron first energized from potentials readout from a storage plate, corresponding to the index positions X, Y, or Z,"will lose control, and its cooperating selector thyratron will take over control in response to following potentials, "corresponding to the numerical index positions '0, 1, 3, and 5, so that numerical data predominates.

With reference to thyratrons G-IU and G -ll (Fig. 8b), at the end of each read out cycle (corresponding to the card sensing cycle from which the data read out arises) these thyratron's are extinguished 'by the opening of the contacts RL-Z l2q, 'and'RL-l I 213, similarly thyratrons G 22 and G-23 are extinguished by the openin-g'of the contacts RL;2Ha and RL2l1b. The relay BL-2H and the relay RL-Zl'l are controlled by the circuit breakers P 5 and S4 and the contacts RL- I9iz and Ri -19b (see Fig. 7(a) previously described. The other selector plates are similarly controlled via relays RL-X shown in Fig. "Tz'zas v In addition to the selector plates discussed above, there are sixteen -sequence plates-provided in thepre's'ent'i'nvention for the purpose of comparing primary data between the primart brushes 66 and the primary sequence brushes 65 '(see Fig. 8a). Fig 81': illustrates diagrammatically two sequence plates (Seq. Plate No. 1 and Seq. Plate No. 16) which are typical of all such plates. Essentially the sequence plate is the equivalent of the selector plate; however, it alsoserves to provide storage for data to be compared and consequentlyoperates independently of the aforementioned storage plates'16 (of Fig. 8a). Functionally the sequencefplate difiers from the "selector plate in that the latter-operates from data read out fro'm'storag'e plates, while th former operates from data sensed directly from the primary cards as they are fed under the primary and primary sequence brushes. By way of example, Sequence Plate No. 1 (Fig. so), which physically resembles 'a -selectorplateLplus the 'ad- 'dition of two thyratrons, comprised or: "two va'cuiirntubes 'Y-lfla and V-iflb; six thy'ratr'ons G-l'2, l 3, (Tr-f4, 'G-"I'S, 'G-TB, 'G-ll; thirty-nine resistors R-Bfl, R-Sl; and R-83 to'R-HQ inclusive, five capacitors -8 to 0-H, and the relays RL-222 and PJ's-223. The thyratron-s G-I Z and G-H-l serve to store data impulses derived from a primary recordcard, the thyratrons G-M and G-l function as selector thyratrons, and the thyratrons G-IB and (3-61 are utilized in connection with alphabetical-numerical control, While the vacuum tubes V-iiaa and V-liib act in conjunction with thyratrons G-l l and G455 for comparing data impulses.

For purposes of illustration, let it be assumed that a column in a primary card is being sensed by the primary brushes corresponding to column 46 of Deck B, Fig. 3, and a column of another primary card following is being sensed by the primary sequence brushes corresponding to column 2i of Deck B, Fig. 3. Let the terminal SQi (Fig. 80) be connected to a primary brush 68 (Fig. 8c) and the terminal SQZ (Fig. 8c) be connected to a primary sequence brush 65 (Fig. 8a). Also let CPS be connected to CPE and the common line between relay contacts Eli-222a and Rib-223a; (see Fig. 80) be connected with the Alph. High post of Fig. 8d so that alphabetical data is predominating. Now with reference to Fig. 80, as the cards are fed, a positive potential is suppliedto SQ2 as the 23" index .position of the card under the primary sequence brush 65 is sensed. (SQI receives no potential until later.) The thyratron G-IS becomes conductive via a positive potential on its grid, and its anode current through resistor R431 and resistor R-Qfl causes positive potentials to be applied to the grids of G-l5 and V-liib so that when the Clamp Emitter (Fig. 8d) raises the screen grid potential of CT-IS to a positive value the thyratron fires and relay Rio-223 becomes energized to close con- ;tacts Eli-223a. Shortly thereafter (see Fig. 9a and Fig. 9b) the potential on line 29E is reduced .to zero by the making of the Brush Storage Drop- .out (see Fig. 8d) and G43 is extinguished. G45 remains conducting and when CR-3 makes a circuit is established to fire thyratron G-i l and thyratron G-lB (via CPS and CP5 connection). The control grids of V-! to and G-M are held negative due to the drop in Ce-ie anode potential. Similarly the control grids of V-Hlb and G-I5 are held negative due to the drop in G-i'l anode potential so that when G-l3 next becomes conductive at the 3 index position the potential drop across the resistors 13-94 and 3-9! will be insufficiently positive with respect to the control grids of V-lfib and G-lfi to overcome the negative potential then existing. Similarly when G42 becomes conductive at the 0, 1, and 5 index positions, the potential drop across resistors Rr-BE and R83 will be insufficiently positive to overcome the negative potentials existing on the contro1 grids of G-i l and V-ifia respectively. Consequently neither V-illa, V-liib, G44, nor G45 can be active again for the remainder of the cycle. G-IE remaining conductive for the rest of the cycle keeps control via relay ELI-223 and alphabetic data predominates.

Sequence Plate No. 16, Fig. 80', may be used to illustrate numerical predomination. Let it be assumed therein that SQ3 is connected to a primary brush 66 (Fig. 8a) and that S614 is connected to a primary sequence brush 65 (Fig. 8a). The common line between the contacts Eli-224a and aL-z-zec is also assumed to be connected to the post labelled Nos. High in Fig. 8d. Assuming the same columns in primary cardsto be comparedas inthe immediately preceding paragraph,

the thyratron G-ZB will receive a positive potential on its control grid via SQ4, as the primary card is sensed by the primary sequence brush at the Z index position, rendering it conductive. Load current of 6-25 flowing through resistors will thereupon cause V-l lb and. G-21 to conduct, G-2l remaining conductive. G-2-9 will be fired via (JR-l3, which is made (see Figs. 9a and 9b), through. the relay contacts RL-225a, relay RIF-225 being energized by G-2'l. The drop in anode potential of G-29, which remains conductive, will place negative potentials upon the control grids of V-I lb and G-21 so that any further positive pulses received thereby will be incapable of rendering them conductive, such a when the 3 index position of the card is sensed by the primary sequence brush, firing the thyratron G45 which is extinguished after each firing by the Brush Storage Dropout (Fig. 811). When the 0 index position of the primary card being fed under the primary brush 66 is sensed, a positive potential is applied to the control grid of thyratron G-Zfi which fires and applies a positive potential to the control grid of V-l la and (3-26, the latter remaining conductive afterthe Clamp Emitter pulse permits it to conduct and thereby energize relay RL-224, at the same time extinguishing G-Zl via the capacitor C-M. G-24 is subsequently deionized via the Brush Storage Dropout (Fig. 8d) and again rendered conductive by a positive potential via SQ3 as the 1 index position is sensed by the primary brush (it. Since (3-26 is already conductive when (3-24 is fired only V-l la responds to the positive potential thereby produced upon the control grid of V-l la and (3-26 in a manner as previously explained. (3-28 remains conducting, however, and relay RL-ZZ -l remains energized so that numerical data predominates in this instance. Similar action occurs when the 5 index position is sensed by the primary brush 66.

The comparing circuits utilized in the selector plates and in the sequence plates previously discussed are also capable of comparing like data quantitatively, e. g. alphabetic versus alphabetic or numeric versus numeric. Briefly, and with respect to the Selector Plate No. 1, see Fig. 82), let it be assumed that a primary card column corresponding to column l6, Deck A is compared with a secondary card column corresponding to column 2|, Deck A (see Fig. 3), (3-8 receiving secondary card data with (3-9 receiving primary card data. With Alph. High connection and CP-i connected to CP-Z neither G-S nor G-9 will become conductive as their respective cards are sensed at the Z index position common to both, and since neither (3-8 nor G-Q is conductive when CR-ii is made neither G-Hi nor G-ll becomes conductive. When the 0 index position is sensed in the primary card, there being no corresponding position sensed in the secondary card, G-Q becomes conductive. G-Q remains conductive for the remainder of the cycle since the sensing in both cards of their respective 3 and 5 index positions produces no further change and relay RL-2l4 closes its points thereby controlling the card feed mechanism with the primary card high. With Nos. High connection, since both the primary and secondary cards contain similar zone designations, neither G-S nor G-Q becomes conductive, and thereafter the cards are compared as with the Alph. High connection, the primary card causing (3-9 to become conductive as the 0 index position is sensed, and the 3 and 5 index positions common to both cards producing no further control change, the primary card remaining high. Numeric data is compared with numeric data in a similar manner, there being no zone index positions sensed so that the cards are both sensed after their zone positions have passed their respective sensing brushes relative to any subsequent action affecting G-B or G-9.

In connection with previously recounted operational features relative to the so called collatin process, wherein, after a certain predetermined number of cycles of operation of the machine, the operation of the feed clutches; via their respective clutch magnets (i. e. the primary clutch magnet 64, the secondary clutch magnet Eli, and the eject clutch magnet 81) is taken over under control of the sensed data, certain functional relations are to be pointed out. These are:

a. A low primary reading, or a high secondary reading in a selector plate, actuates the primary feed clutch.

b. A low secondary reading, or'a high primary reading in a selector plate, actuates the secondary feed clutch.

c. An equal reading in a selector-plate combined with an equal reading in a corresponding sequence plate actuates the primary feed clutch.

d. An equal reading in a selector plate combined with a high primary sequence reading in a sequence plate actuates both the primary and secondary feed clutches.

e. The eject feed clutch may be actuated with either the primary or the secondary feed clutch, depending upon the operation being performed.

As has been previously explained certain of the cam contacts of the present invention correspond in equivalency to certain cam contacts of the patent of reference, i. e. U. 812,379,828. Cam contacts P4, P4, S-2, 8- (see Fig. 8d), for example, are equivalent to am contacts PC-2, PC-3, SC-I, SC-3 (see Fig. lb of reference patcm) respectively, and function to control energization of the relays R-8 to R-l 6 of the reference patent, relays Rib-226 and RL-Zfl, respectively, in the present invention corresponding to relays R-Hi and R-ll. In order that relays R1426 and RL-IZT may be pickedup-quickly by positive voltage pulses applied to YI andXI plughubs. respectively, the thyratrons G-IB and G-I9 are provided; The energizing and holding circuits thereby provided are unique in the manner in which these thyratrons' are applied. Let the circuit applicable to thyratronG-l 8 (Fig. 8d) be presumed to receive a positivepulse at YI when cam contacts S-3 are closed, resulting in the thyratron G48 becoming conductive and picking up relay RL 226. By consulting the timing chart (Figs. 9a and 9b) it will be determined that the cam contacts S-Z are always closed when cam contacts S-3 are closed, consequently when relay RL-226 closes its a contact the thyratron G-l B will become extinguished and relay RL-226 will be held through its a.'contact until S-Z opens, the thyratron G48 being conditioned automatically thereby to be responsive to a succeeding pulse. The thyratron G-l9 functions similarly with respect to plughub, XI, cam contacts B4 and P-3, and relay RL-22l. Plughubs YI and XI correspond to the plughubs SXPU and PXPU of Fig. 1b of the reference patent, while the arrows designated in Fig. 8d of the present invention by Y0 and X0 provide connections respectively to relays R-8,'R-9, R-lliand R-H', R-IZ, R43, R-Hi, R-l 5, R-IB of the reference patent.

' All of the above mentioned functional operations are covered in the reference patent, and

these may be performed similarly in a machineof the class described equipped with the features of the present invention. By way of example, however, an operation wherein the secondary feed clutch is actuated to feed a secondary card as a result of reading a low secondary card in Selector Pate No. 1 is chosen. Let it be assumed that the data has been sensed from both a primary card and a secondary card and storedinthe-appropriate storage plates associated with Selector. Plate No. 1. Let it. also be assumed that data, both primary and secondary is read out and compared in the said selector plate and that asa result the thyratron G-9 in Fig. 8b is conductive atthe end of the card cycle due to the primary card data being higher than that of the secondary card. The relay RL-ZM will become energized when (i-9v is conductive. Now, referring to Fig. 711-, it is apparent that the relay R1144 (corresponding to relay R-24 of the reference patent) will be energized via line I69 (corresponding toline WI in the reference patent), relay ELL-24, contacts RL-38b, contacts RL-Zl lb (now I transferred), contacts RL-2l3b, contacts RL-2 Nib, contacts RL-2 I 5b, plughub PH6, via plugwireto plughub PI-I-l, to CR-Z (see reference patentFig. 1d) and to the other, line I10 (not shown in Fig. 7b; but corresponding to line W2 in Fig, 1c of the reference patent). Operation of contacts of relay R-24 in the reference patent will cause the secondary feed magnet SFM in Fig. 1c of that patent to become energized to produce a secondary card feed. Similarly RL-22 (corresponding to relay Rf-22 in. the reference patent) will be energized when a low primary designation'is sensed. in a selector plate to cause a primary card feed, while if the primary designation and secondary designation, which are sensed, are: equal the relay RL-23 (R-23 of reference) will be energized. Likewise the relays RL-25, BL- 26,; and RL-Z-I (see Fig. 70) will become energized under control of the contacts RL-222b, RL-223b, RL-224b, and RL-225b' as a result of relays RL-ZZZ, Eli-223, RL-224, and RL-225 operating in the sequence plates when differences occur between primary cards at the primary and primary sequence sensing stations. In other w'ords the Selector Plate Contacts of Fig. 72) may be said to replace the Selector Unit of Fig. 1d of the reference patent, and the sequence Plate Contacts of Fig. 70 may be said to replacethe Sequence Unit of the reference patent.

In order that a check of the conditions of comparison in selector and sequence plates may be made, additional contacts are provided for the relays RL-2l3, RL-2l4, RL-ZIS, RL-2l'6 and RL-222, RIP-223, RL-224, RL-22'5 corresponding to the contacts "0 in Fig. 10. These contacts are arranged in a circuit together with a plurality of neon lamps grouped in a block I (see Fig. 4) and connected to operate so that when a low secondary designation is sensed in Selector Plate No. 1, for example, a neon bulb corresponding to that selector plate marked L. S. will be lighted by the operation of relay RL-2 l4 and the closing of the contacts RL-Z l 40 which establishes a circuit between volt line I91, neon lamp 

